Surplus Center's Curtis Cab

[RockyNY]

Just wondered if anyone has purchased the MF Curtis cab that Surplus center has for $599. I'm about ready to order one and attempt to modify it to fit my 4035 Mahindra. I figure for $599 + freight, there's enough of materials I can use (windshield, roof, doors & wipers) to make it worthwhile even if I can't get the frame to fit.

 

[Don87]

I looked at those also, but the wheel-cutouts won't work for my GC.
The frame just may fit on your Mahindra, and it appears that the wheel cutouts will work on your tractor. Take a few measurements and see whit it looks like, then decide.
The price is right if you can make it work.

 

[drivadesl]

That looks like a pretty good deal if you can get it to fit your machine. I would love to find a cab that I could get to fit my TN-70. Likely will have to build one when I eventually work my way down the list of other things I need to do first.....

 

[RockyNY]

Well I received the cab today. I was surprised how fast it arrived, Surplus Center had said 5-7 business days for delivery. It shipped on Tuesday and arrived on Friday, with Thursday being a holiday. Now for the fun part, making it fit.

 

[avc8130]

Please post some pics and keep us posted.
Ac

 

[RockyNY]

I unpacked all the pieces tonight, I'm pleased with the quality of this cab, everything is very sturdy. After some preliminary measuring and fit-up, I've concluded that I will be able to make everything work, but not without some chopping and welding. The side frames as well as the doors will need to be shortened at the bottom and lengthened in the back. The wheel cutout doesn't match the fenders perfectly, but it's close enough to work, and I can fabricate a skirt to seal the gap. Because I have to modify the doors & door frames, I won't be able to use the vinyl side curtains. This shouldn't be too big an issue, as there is an Amish canvas shop not too far from here. I was also considering replacing the vinyl with glass anyhow. It'll be a project for sure, but I still think it will be easier than building a cab from scratch.

 

[Don87]

I unpacked all the pieces tonight, I'm pleased with the quality of this cab, everything is very sturdy. After some preliminary measuring and fit-up, I've concluded that I will be able to make everything work, but not without some chopping and welding. The side frames as well as the doors will need to be shortened at the bottom and lengthened in the back. The wheel cutout doesn't match the fenders perfectly, but it's close enough to work, and I can fabricate a skirt to seal the gap. Because I have to modify the doors & door frames, I won't be able to use the vinyl side curtains. This shouldn't be too big an issue, as there is an Amish canvas shop not too far from here. I was also considering replacing the vinyl with glass anyhow. It'll be a project for sure, but I still think it will be easier than building a cab from scratch.

Pics please...............before you start, and during the fitting process.

 

[RockyNY]

Well tomorrow is the first day of fall, and I haven't even started working on this project yet. I plan to start today, and I will have to work fast in order to have it done by the time it gets cold. I'll post some preliminary pics soon.

 

[Don87]

I'm curious to see how it works out for you.

Be sure to document any modifications you need to make.

 

[Sysop]

I'm curious to see how it works out for you.

Be sure to document any modifications you need to make.

+1 Could be something I try later too. Best wishes!

 

[RockyNY]

Well I've been making slow progress. I had to cut the main side frames down to fit between the loader & fenders. I have everything tacked back together and did a preliminary mount today to see how things were looking. The cab looks really nice on the tractor. I'm having some difficulty figuring out how to fasten the cab while making sure that it's centered and square. I think I have a plan figured out now. I have to extend the back wall, since the cab is so short that the existing back would come down right on the seat. I don't think that will be too hard.
I do have pictures, I'll probably wait to put them up until the project is completed.

 

[Glen Sutton]

Rocky, thanks for posting this thread. On the basis of your work, I downloaded pictures of the MF, Mahindra and my own Kubota L3010 and superimposed using Photoshop after adjusting for scale. I can see that your 4035 is rather long wheelbase compared to the Fergies intended for this cab. For my Kubota, the cab length was pretty much a good match, but the wheel fenders and cowling were a different shape. The Fergies have a very rounded fender, whereas the Kubota can use three straight lengths. I was able to match the Curtis 3/4 x 2 x 0.065 tubing, and used a cutoff saw to mitre the joints. No bending needed. For the cowling, I had to grind the material away, maybe 3/8 maximum to get a good fit. I still have some gaps to fill where I couldn't match curvature, but should be able to do that with weatherstripping. I still need to spend another weekend to chop up the doors to match the cab side walls, but at least now I have an exact template to follow. Best part of the job: needing to acquire a Hobart 140 Handler, (I have lusted after for years). So comparing the Surplus $600 cab (plus 50 hrs my labour) to a new Curtis Cab at $2800, I'd encourage the DIY'rs to go for it. Be quick tho', they only have six Surplus cabs left in stock !.
Thanks for posting, and for having the courage to pioneer.

 

[PILOON]

Just a suggestion,
I found what I'd call 'paint brushes by the yard' LOL. It is a weather strip that is commonly used on public storage building roll up doors.
Buddy had a few spares that I used to fill gaps between my home made cab straight tubing and curved areas (like fenders and between windshield cross tubing and curved hood)
It is so effective that rain wind and snow is kept out. Being extruded soft aluminum it can be curved as required to fit but bristles also simply place themselves accordingly.
Also plastic bristles do not scratch painted surfaces.

 

[stingray1]

Please post some pics and keep us posted.
Ac

X2 on the pics.

 

[RockyNY]

Just a quick update. For several reasons, I never did get the cab finished before cold weather hit. I modified the vinyl that came with the cab to fit the cut-down doors and rear, and used some window wrap to close off most of the other gaps for temporary.
The way it turned out, it will take way more work than I anticipated to make it fit properly, If I had to do it over I wouldn't do it. Too many things just don't fit properly, my plan is (once warm weather rolls around) to basically rebuild the whole lower cab frame to fit closer to my tractor's fenders. Also because my Mahindra is wider than the cab's intended model, I ran into significant problems with getting the doors to clear the fenders when they open. I think that re-shaping the curve where it fits over the fender will help this issue, but I do think it would have been simpler to build from scratch.